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K-Demon Hunters Goes Global — The Surprise Beneficiary? Nongshim

There is a song trending on Spotify right now

The OST tracks “Your Idol” and “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters are gaining serious attention.

These songs ranked number 1 and 2 on Spotify’s US Daily Top Songs chart

Golden entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 23

and the soundtrack album reached number 3 on the Billboard 200

With this much buzz around the OST, it is natural for attention to turn to entertainment stocks

But the stock we are highlighting today is not HYBE or YG

It is the unexpected beneficiary—Nongshim Holdings

A global sensation that started with zero expectations

K-pop Demon Hunters, or KDHH, is an original animation produced by Sony Pictures. It follows the story of Huntress, a K-pop girl group trio—Lumi, Mira, and Joy—who moonlight as demon hunters behind the stage.

Expectations were low before its release. In fact, close to zero.

The premise—a Korean idol group created by a Japanese studio under American financing—reminded many of past Western attempts to mash up East Asian culture, often ending in failure.

But once the film was released, the response was overwhelming.

· Charming character designs inspired by jakhodo art

· Detailed depictions of Korean food culture like ramen, gimbap, and hotteok

· An OST that captured the full spirit of K-pop

· Small cultural touches, like using tissue paper as a chopstick rest at restaurants

Even the subtlest details, instantly recognizable to Korean viewers, were faithfully portrayed.

The result? Global fans praised it as “authentically Korean.”

And the numbers followed:

· Ranked No. 1 globally in Netflix’s film category during its first week

· Hit No. 1 in 41 countries, including the US, Germany, and Thailand

· Dance moves from the film’s fictional idol group became real K-pop dance challenges

This led to a second wave of content spreading across platforms.

Netflix and Sony were caught off guard by the success and scrambled to produce official merchandise

Meanwhile, a jakhodo-inspired badge from the National Museum of Korea sold out as an unofficial “fan good.”

Nongshim Keeps Popping Up in K-Demon Hunters

As you watch the film, certain elements start to stand out.

The spicy chips that lead character Joy eats look strikingly similar to Shrimp Crackers.

The cup ramen eaten by Huntress members is branded “Dongshim” and features a large red character “Shin,” clearly reminiscent of Shin Ramyun. Even the instructions—“pour hot water and wait three minutes”—match the real product.

Ahead of the film’s release, Netflix held a promotional event in New York City, handing out instant ramen to passersby.

What makes this even more interesting is that Nongshim had no official PPL or sponsorship deal with K-pop Demon Hunters.

The film’s global success has unintentionally delivered Nongshim a wave of free international exposure.

K-Content? The Formula That Drives Real-World Sales

There have been past cases where K-content led directly to consumer spending.

The 2020 Oscar-winning film Parasite is a prime example of K-content driving global consumption.

The appearance of “Chapaguri” in the film caught international audiences by surprise. In the month following the film’s release, Nongshim’s overseas sales of Chapagetti more than doubled year over year, reaching approximately 1.5 million dollars.

In March, BLACKPINK’s Jennie mentioned Banana Kick and Shrimp Crackers as her favorite snacks on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Just four days later, Nongshim’s market cap jumped by 260 billion KRW—an example of the “five-second magic” effect in action.

This isn’t new. K-content has repeatedly influenced real consumer behavior abroad, translating into tangible gains in both revenue and stock price.

K-pop Demon Hunters also features recurring elements that closely resemble Nongshim products, suggesting a similar ripple effect in global consumer markets may follow.

Nongshim vs. Nongshim Holdings — Why the Real Play Is the Holding Company

(This is Nongshim’s Instagram post from today, the 11th. Could it be hinting at a K-Demon Hunters collaboration?)

Then why not just buy Nongshim directly? Why bother with Nongshim Holdings?

Here’s why it matters.

Recent momentum in the Korean stock market, fueled by this year’s amendment to the Commercial Act and the upcoming expansion of separate dividend taxation, has sparked a revaluation of low-PBR stocks. Holding companies have been leading that move.

As the holding company of Nongshim, Nongshim Holdings reflects:

· The earnings and brand exposure benefits of Nongshim

· A currently low PBR

· A relatively high dividend yield

· And direct upside from policies aimed at improving holding company structures

This is not just a case of “moving with the group.”

Nongshim Holdings is a rare combination of undervaluation, dividend strength, and structure that aligns perfectly with what today’s market is rewarding most.

In Closing

Netflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters delivered an unexpected global hit.

Korean food products—especially Nongshim’s ramen and Shrimp Crackers—were naturally embedded in the content, building emotional familiarity and triggering consumer interest among international viewers.

From Parasite in 2020, to Squid Game in 2021, and now K-pop Demon Hunters in 2025,

K-content driving real-world consumption and stock price momentum is no longer a coincidence—it is a repeatable pattern.

If you can’t invest in the content itself, why not ride the consumption trend it creates?

Now is the time to take a closer look at Nongshim Holdings, the unexpected beneficiary.

[Compliance Note]

All posts by Sellsmart are for informational purposes only. Final investment decisions should be made with careful judgment and at the investor’s own risk.
The content of this post may be inaccurate, and any profits or losses resulting from trades are solely the responsibility of the investor.
Core16 may hold positions in the stocks mentioned in this post and may buy or sell them at any time.

Neutral

072710

Nongshim Holdings

셀스마트 판다

3 days ago

CORE16 Model Forecasts June CPI at 2.6 Percent

You can check out CORE16’s proprietary CPI forecasting model at the link below.

👉 https://core16-cpi-nowcast.streamlit.app/

CORE16 CPI model predicted June CPI (to be announced in July) at 2.6 percent.

What is CPI, and Why Does It Need to Be Predicted

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is not just a basic inflation number.

CPI is one of the most important economic indicators that moves interest rates, bonds, and equity markets.

The Federal Reserve, in particular, uses CPI as a core reference when setting monetary policy.

In that sense, understanding CPI is essentially predicting the direction of the market.

But CPI is released with a lag—each month’s figure is reported in the following month.

Before the official number comes out, the market has no choice but to rely on speculation, and that gap in visibility has long created differences in investor timing.

To address this gap, the Cleveland Fed developed a CPI nowcasting model.

By incorporating high-frequency data such as oil prices, food costs, and gasoline prices,

the model provides real-time CPI estimates even before official releases.

It is structurally simple, but its speed and interpretability have earned it a strong reputation as a practical tool for market insight.

Inspired by the Cleveland Fed, CORE16 built its own CPI forecasting model tailored for domestic investors.

Rather than focusing on complex algorithms, the goal was clear:

deliver the fastest and most reasonable estimate based on the latest available data.

The CORE16 model updates daily in real time.

Between 2024 and March 2025, it reduced forecast error by approximately 20 percent compared to existing methods.

Looking ahead, CORE16 plans to expand beyond CPI to cover employment data, retail sales, corporate earnings outlooks, and more.

Our mission is to help investors see the market more clearly and respond faster—through data-driven insight and proactive decision-making.

[Compliance Note]

All posts by Sellsmart are for informational purposes only. Final investment decisions should be made with careful judgment and at the investor’s own risk.
The content of this post may be inaccurate, and any profits or losses resulting from trades are solely the responsibility of the investor.
Core16 may hold positions in the stocks mentioned in this post and may buy or sell them at any time.

Neutral

NONE

No Relevant Stock

SellSmartR

2 days ago

Korean Relief Payments Are Coming — Who Benefits Most?

In July, the Korean Government Will Open Its Wallet Again

This year’s Consumer Relief Coupon Program is aimed at stimulating spending to boost the economy, similar to the COVID-era stimulus payments.

Who gets it

· All citizens, tiered by income level

Top 10 percent: 150,000 KRW

General population: 250,000 KRW

Low-income and single-parent households: 400,000 KRW

Basic welfare recipients: 500,000 KRW

How it works

· Issued as digital coupons, linked to credit and debit cards

· Not usable at large retailers or department stores

· Usable at traditional markets, convenience stores, neighborhood supermarkets, restaurants

Usage period

· Valid through November 30, 2025

Distribution schedule

· 1st round: July 21 to September 12, 2025

· 2nd round: September 22 to October 31, 2025

👉 The key detail: this is not cash, but purpose-driven spending.

In the short term, this is expected to directly benefit local businesses and essential consumer sectors.

How Will the Relief Payment Impact Consumer Sentiment

Over the past five years, including the latest round, the government has issued nationwide consumer relief payments three times.

Out of the total 15.2 trillion KRW stimulus package, over 10.3 trillion is allocated to consumer relief coupons, accounting for more than half of the budget. An additional 5 trillion is aimed at supporting small businesses and stabilizing livelihoods.

Shinhan Investment Corp. estimates that the impact on GDP growth will be limited, projecting a short-term lift of just 0.1 percent—suggesting this is not a structural solution

According to data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety,

mart and grocery purchases accounted for the largest share of spending from previous relief programs—27 percent in 2020 and 28.6 percent in 2021.

This year’s relief coupons are also expected to concentrate spending in the same channels, likely benefiting the food and grocery sector most directly.

Kyobo Securities highlighted that the Consumer Sentiment Index has remained above 100 points since May and reached 108.79 in June—its highest level in four years following the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration. Based on this, they expect earnings recovery in the food and beverage sector in Q3.

Interestingly, even though department stores were excluded from the list of eligible merchants during the 2020 relief payments, they still saw same-store sales rebound thanks to overall consumption recovery. Convenience stores also maintained growth, helped by increased tobacco sales.

Key Beneficiaries by Sector

Payment Infrastructure – NHN Payco (181710)

· Operates ZeroPay-based local voucher payment platforms

· Most direct payment infrastructure when using government coupons linked to local municipalities

Essential Consumer Goods – BGF Retail (282330)

· Convenience stores are eligible for coupon use, unlike large retailers

· Strong exposure to basic goods like tobacco and food

Retail – Emart (139480)

· Not officially eligible, but some channels like Emart24 and Traders can accept coupons

· Focus on offline daily essentials positions it well for sentiment-driven recovery

Dining – CJ CheilJedang (097950)

· Operates dining brands such as VIPS, Cheiljemyunso, and The Place

· Food service sector is coupon-eligible

Because the use of relief coupons is restricted by merchant type, spending behavior is highly predictable.

Where the Government Is Steering Consumer Spending

The direction is clear:

· Away from large retail and toward essential everyday purchases

· Away from online and toward offline physical spending

· Away from discretionary spending and toward repeatable, basic consumption

This structure creates a favorable environment in the short term for specific sectors like convenience stores, dining, essential goods, and payment infrastructure.

Now is the time to focus not on general expectations, but on how policy is actually reshaping demand in real time.

[Compliance Note]

All posts by Sellsmart are for informational purposes only. Final investment decisions should be made with careful judgment and at the investor’s own risk.
The content of this post may be inaccurate, and any profits or losses resulting from trades are solely the responsibility of the investor.
Core16 may hold positions in the stocks mentioned in this post and may buy or sell them at any time.

Neutral

097950

CJ CheilJedang

셀스마트 판다

2 days ago

Weekly Issue 📢

If you don't sell this now, you'll get bitten for 10 years.

셀스마트 판다

5 days ago

Nvidia Breaks $4 Trillion—And Flashes a Rare Triple Signal